Tuition and Other Costs

$24,000, $12,000, $30,000 - College tuition is expensive and that does not even include your personal expense. (got a date, want to go see that new movie, I want those new sneakers/shoes.) So, how can I defray some of these costs? Well, the Department of Education has various programs designed to help defray the cost of college. These programs include Federal Pell Grant, Federal & Direct Loans, PLUS Loans (Parent Loans), Federal Work Study, and a host of Campus Based Aid Programs. You can learn about state programs by contacting your state department of education, by checking with your high school counselor or the college you plan to attend, or by using a search engine on the Internet with the keywords "financial aid," "student aid," or "scholarships."

To receive any aid you must meet the following criteria:

• have a financial need
• have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate or pass a test approved by the Department of Education
• be working toward a degree or certificate
• be enrolled in an eligible program
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
• have a valid Social Security Number
• register with the Selective Service if required (you can register on the FAFSA - discussed later)
• maintain satisfactory academic progress once in school